Cristiano Ronaldo has already named five players he thinks will be in the running for the 2025 Ballon d’Or - although just one is likely to pick up the coveted award.
Ronaldo, 40, is no stranger to winning the Ballon d’Or, having picked up the gong on five separate occasions – in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
The Messi-Ronaldo period of dominance of the award between 2008 and 2023 was broken twice by Karim Benzema and Luka Modric in 2018 and 2022, respectively, before Manchester City midfielder Rodri won the accolade in 2024.
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But who has Ronaldo backed to pick up the 2025 edition of the award?
“I think [Kylian Mbappe] will do well,” said Ronaldo when speaking alongside Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel last year.
“The structure of the club [Real Madrid]… it’s nice, it’s good. They have a great coach and the president, Florentino [Pérez], who has been there many, many years.
“I think it won’t be a big problem because of his talent. Mbappé can be the next Golden Ball [Ballon d’Or] winner for the next years. Him, [Erling] Haaland, [Jude] Bellingham, Lamine [Yamal]. This new generation has a lot of potential.
“Madrid is the kind of team they don’t rush under pressure. People say they’re lucky in the Champions [League]. No, they are not lucky. They’re prepared for this kind of moment. The Bernabeu has that different aura.
“Now, if you say that Madrid is going to be better or not, we don’t know. Mbappe is there now, I think Madrid will keep strong, but I don’t know if they will be better than last year. Only God knows.”
Ferdinand also mentioned Vinicius Jr during his chat with Ronaldo.
However, of the players mentioned, Yamal, 17, is the only one who could realistically win the award as Haaland, 24, has been injured since March and will likely miss the rest of the season as a result.
Meanwhile, now that Real Madrid are out of the Champions League, Mbappe, 26, Bellingham, 21, and Vinicius Jr are unlikely to win the award.
2025 Ballon d'Or winner odds
Raphinha - 6/4
Ousmane Dembele - 6/1
Mohamed Salah - 6/1
Lamine Yamal - 8/1
Robert Lewandowski - 12/1
Pedri - 12/1
Kylian Mbappe - 20/1
Odds via Oddschecker.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ballon d'Or, Football, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Rodri, Football News
Luke Davies